Memphis and N. Mississippi excursion
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:27 pm
Was in Memphis and Mississippi last week for a few days. In Memphis, I was at the Hyatt Place on Primacy Pkwy., near Poplar and I-240. In that area the first night, I dined at Jarrett's on Quince Road. It is in a non-descript and partially vacated strip mall. Inside, the interior is attractive. It was a Monday night so there were not many diners there. There is a serviceable, if not huge, wine list with some nice choices available. It was their 15th anniv. so they were running a couple of the menu items at their original prices, but I opted for other fare. The smoked trout ravioli with Arkansas caviar is good, but the flavors just didin't really come together for me. Others might find it a really nice app. The Morrocan style glazed salmon was very good, succulent fish, nice aromatic spiciness. It is served over saffron cous-cous and I thought the whole thing was pretty tasty paired up with the Ravenswood Zin. Prices were moderate. Service was prompt, friendly and attentive. All in all a worthy outing. I notice the restaurant has gotten mixed reviews on various boards, due to consistency and menu that apparently doesn't change a lot. This is not cutting-edge stuff, but I would say it is a good choice for a better dining experience in this area of town. Certainly not worth a journey from downtown, however. http://www.jarretts.com
Tuesday AM: I skipped the hotel offerings to get a full hot breakfast over at the Blue Plate Cafe on Poplar near 240. It's your basic breakfast place, good service, no complaints as to food (omelette, grits, biscuit with white gravy, and coffee).
Tuesday PM: I had planned to try Central BBQ, but ended up skipping that since I'd had BBQ over in Arkansas farm country for lunch and I didn't want BBQ twice. Instead, I tried Abbysinia, an Ethiopian place on Poplar. Since we don't have any Ethiopian places in New Orleans and I have never tried the cuisine and was curious, I gave it a shot. The place itself is basic, very simple in decor. Service is a bit casual, but friendly. I assume it is a family business since all generations seemed to be present. Every other diner seemed to be a regular, chatting with and/or hugging the proprietor. After consulting with her, I played it safe and got a beef entree. It comes with the curious injera bread that is thin and spongy and you use it to pick up your food with your hands, although Western cutlery is available too. The meat was braised in a variety of spices and herbs, slightly spicy (hot). There are three sides (cabbage, mashed chickpeas and I forgot the the other). Anyone who already enjoys Indian and Middle Eastern food (as I do) will probably enjoy this place. I plan to try another menu item on a future trip to Memphis.
http://www.memphismenusonline.com/abyssinia.html for a link to the menu
Wed. Lunch: buffet at the Horseshoe in Tunica. I wanted to hit the Blue & White at midday, but I was delayed and didn't get down here until nearly 2 PM so the B&W Was kinda picked over by then and didn't look very appetizing. I was meeting an old friend from college who now lives in Hernando, who suggested the Horeshoe. My luck with casino food in Biloxi and Lula has not been good and this was no better. Buffets usually are not that great and everything here was pretty pedestrian. The higher end restaurants at the casions may be quite good for all I know (I am not a casino person), but this food was utterly forgettable.
Wed. PM: After visiting the Faulkner house, I headed to the City Grocery on the square in Oxford. Started with a soup of white sweet corn with a fried chicken skin garnish on top. Very nice. Had a glass of 2007 Saddleback Pinot Grigio with that. Next was a duck confit salad with gorgonzola. Very good as well. Switched to a 2005 Rioja and got the sturgeon wrapped in country ham - sound wierd, but it was perfection. Finished off with buttermilk ice cream with almond lace cookie. Yum. Very good service, despite a table of 15 sitting right next to me shortly after I arrived. The restaurant is attractive without being too fussy. You can toddle over to Square Books to pick up a good read after dinner. There is lodging in easy walking distance of the restaurant. The accolades (James Beard award, etc.) are well-deserved. Best meal I have had in the Memphis area in some time, definitely worth a detour off your I-55 route.
http://www.citygroceryonline.com/cgnews.html
...more follows...
Tuesday AM: I skipped the hotel offerings to get a full hot breakfast over at the Blue Plate Cafe on Poplar near 240. It's your basic breakfast place, good service, no complaints as to food (omelette, grits, biscuit with white gravy, and coffee).
Tuesday PM: I had planned to try Central BBQ, but ended up skipping that since I'd had BBQ over in Arkansas farm country for lunch and I didn't want BBQ twice. Instead, I tried Abbysinia, an Ethiopian place on Poplar. Since we don't have any Ethiopian places in New Orleans and I have never tried the cuisine and was curious, I gave it a shot. The place itself is basic, very simple in decor. Service is a bit casual, but friendly. I assume it is a family business since all generations seemed to be present. Every other diner seemed to be a regular, chatting with and/or hugging the proprietor. After consulting with her, I played it safe and got a beef entree. It comes with the curious injera bread that is thin and spongy and you use it to pick up your food with your hands, although Western cutlery is available too. The meat was braised in a variety of spices and herbs, slightly spicy (hot). There are three sides (cabbage, mashed chickpeas and I forgot the the other). Anyone who already enjoys Indian and Middle Eastern food (as I do) will probably enjoy this place. I plan to try another menu item on a future trip to Memphis.
http://www.memphismenusonline.com/abyssinia.html for a link to the menu
Wed. Lunch: buffet at the Horseshoe in Tunica. I wanted to hit the Blue & White at midday, but I was delayed and didn't get down here until nearly 2 PM so the B&W Was kinda picked over by then and didn't look very appetizing. I was meeting an old friend from college who now lives in Hernando, who suggested the Horeshoe. My luck with casino food in Biloxi and Lula has not been good and this was no better. Buffets usually are not that great and everything here was pretty pedestrian. The higher end restaurants at the casions may be quite good for all I know (I am not a casino person), but this food was utterly forgettable.
Wed. PM: After visiting the Faulkner house, I headed to the City Grocery on the square in Oxford. Started with a soup of white sweet corn with a fried chicken skin garnish on top. Very nice. Had a glass of 2007 Saddleback Pinot Grigio with that. Next was a duck confit salad with gorgonzola. Very good as well. Switched to a 2005 Rioja and got the sturgeon wrapped in country ham - sound wierd, but it was perfection. Finished off with buttermilk ice cream with almond lace cookie. Yum. Very good service, despite a table of 15 sitting right next to me shortly after I arrived. The restaurant is attractive without being too fussy. You can toddle over to Square Books to pick up a good read after dinner. There is lodging in easy walking distance of the restaurant. The accolades (James Beard award, etc.) are well-deserved. Best meal I have had in the Memphis area in some time, definitely worth a detour off your I-55 route.
http://www.citygroceryonline.com/cgnews.html
...more follows...